Public Transit May Soon Be Completely Free
Kansas City, Missouri, now offers a free public transit system, and many other cities, including Washington DC, San Francisco, and Boston, are also testing free public transit options.
Washington D.C. could be the next American city to eliminate the charge for using the public transit system. Other major cities, including Boston, San Francisco, and Denver, are in the process of trialing a free transit system. But it was Kansas City, Missouri, that became the first city to remove any fees regarding public transit.
The free public transit movement is getting a lot of positive publicity, with many business, environmental, and government groups advocating to make the switch permanent. They state that public transit boost local economies, is better for the environment, and is the only means of transport for some individuals.
As the idea is gaining traction throughout the country, it is getting some pushback from local politicians who think the new policy would not fit in easily with local laws or budgets. But Washington D.C. aims to get the movement approved and the $2 bus fair removed by this July, as its city council unanimously approved the idea. It is now waiting for approval by the city’s mayor, who can endorse it, veto or return the bill unsigned.
This new bill would allocate over $40 million to make the Metrobus accessible to everyone who needs to use it. It will also make another twelve 24-hour buses operational.
The council is still unsure if they will add a subsidy program for the Metrorail. This program will give every Washington D.C. resident a $100 monthly credit to spend using the rail system.
Zero-fare public transit has also gained the backing of environmental groups that want people to use their cars less when they can and use public transportation; by doing this, it will significantly reduce carbon emissions for the city. Local businesses also approve of the idea as it will bring more people into the city where there is a higher chance they will spend money.
Boston is trialing the same movement as they have picked three of their bus route to remain free until 2024. While Denver is taking a different approach. They have introduced fare-free holidays to promote environmentally friendly ways to travel.
But Kansas City is the only city where free public transit has stuck. It trialed free public transit in 2016 with its streetcar launch, a hop-on-and-off train in the city center. Then, Kansas City finally made public transport officially free in 2019. They are expanding their streetcar by six miles, which should be completed in 2025. Since the implementation of the streetcar, over $4 billion has been invested into the center of Kansas City, including hotels and restaurants.
Making public transit accessible is not only better for the environment and boosts businesses around the city, but it also shows taxpayers that their hard-earned money is being put into improving the overall lifestyle of everyone. It will boost tourism as it becomes more affordable to get around the city as people will be able to spend the money that they would usually spend on trains and buses on local businesses instead. It is a great move to boost morale after several bleak years.
